While taking the photographs of the tiny wasp last week, I noticed another insect that eats aphids.

flower-fly-larva1

Do you see it?

flower-fly-larva2

How about now?

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Here’s a hint.

flower-fly-larva

The caterpillar-like creature is actually the larva of a fly called a flower fly (syrphidae). Although you may think of fly larvae as legless creature found in garbage, the flower fly larvae chase down and eat aphids. They are often pinkish or greenish in color.

flower-fly

The adult flies feed on nectar of flowers, hence the common name. They are often mistaken for honey bees. (This is not the same species as the larva above.)

Have you ever seen a flower fly? Why do you think the larva is so hard to spot?